Cubs vs. Reds (Game 45)
The Cubs lost a tough one. Darvish struggled with his command in the first inning and then was his dominant self after that, while the Cubs offense floundered against a locked-in Trevor Bauer. The series stands at 1-1 with the Reds' secondary ace, Sonny Gray, taking on an intriguing Cubs fill-in, Adbert Alzolay.CHC (25-19): RHP Adbert Alzolay (0-1, 2.08 ERA)
CIN (19-24): RHP Sonny Gray (5-2, 3.19 ERA)
First pitch 7:15 pm central
Alzolay is making his third spot start of 2020. After an initial 5-inning start with only 1 unearned run allowed, Alzolay struggled to find the strike zone and exited after 2.2 in his second start. In those two starts and 1 relief inning, Alzolay has struck out 12 opponents in only 8.2 innings pitched. In a very small sample size, lefties have had a significant advantage against the righty; his changeup is still developing and he has struggled at times to keep it low in (or below) the strikezone.
Gray's renaissance in Cincinnati has continued in the shortened 2020 season. He continues to strike out well over a batter per inning will coaxing a reasonable number of groundballs from opponents. Gray defeated the Cubs way back in late July. He held them to two unearned runs and struck out 11 in 6.2 innings in Cincinnati. In his last start, the Cards chased him in the first inning; they scored six earned runs on three walk and five hits. Basically no current Cub has had any success against him. Javy is 1-12 with 8 strikeouts.
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